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science_expat
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« on: December 09, 2008, 04:43:45 PM » |
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I've just been contacted by a popular science organization to comment on a paper that will be published on Thursday. I've spoken with this guy about my own research and he's pretty sharp so I'm happy to cooperate.
When we last were in contact, 2 or so years ago, I was Dr. Expat. Now I'm a Prof. Should I upgrade the title? Here in the UK it's a big thing but in the States "Professor" can also be used for someone teaching without a Ph.D.
No big deal either way - will probably go with Prof. But I do think it's an interesting question (or maybe I'm just PWP). Which would you do?
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Professor of Something Scarily Scientific Sounding
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wegie
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« Reply #1 on: December 09, 2008, 06:10:31 PM » |
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Definitely upgrade to Prof.
Is there any way of ensuring that the tagline makes it plain that you're the equivalent of a US Full? "S_E is a Full Professor of Something Scarily Scientific at Horizontal Sleet University" or "S_E holds the Chair or Scary Scientific Stuff at HSU"?
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britmom
I'm a slightly less sleep deprived, but still cranky
Senior member
Posts: 725
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« Reply #2 on: December 10, 2008, 03:52:24 AM » |
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I agree with wegie.
For those mere mortals who haven't made it to the rank of full Professor, I find it very strange when US exchange students refer to me as Prof Britmom. It's a case of 'No, I'm not one of them....but, hey, that sounds nice." One day.....
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expatinuk
Has spent over 1000 pounds but now holds a Brit passport!
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 6,564
From SC living in UK
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« Reply #3 on: December 10, 2008, 05:23:17 AM » |
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I actually stay with Dr. when talking with Americans. If I say 'Professor' they think that I don't have the Ph.D. and treat me accordingly.
On my business card it does read:
ExPat in UK, Ph.D.
Professor of expat-ness
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Expatinuk seems to be a Soviet Satellite in stationary orbit over the UK
It is what it is.
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neutralname
A person without qualities, except for being a
Member-Moderator
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 5,429
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« Reply #4 on: December 10, 2008, 07:03:35 AM » |
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Our adjuncts with masters degrees are professors here, so calling yourself professor in the USA certainly doesn't convey the same as it does in the UK.
But if you have a named chair, can't you call yourself the "name" Professor? E.g. the Waynflete Professor at Magdalen College, Oxford, at least in introducing yourself?
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"My loathings are simple: stupidity, oppression, crime, cruelty, soft music." Vladimir Nabokov
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empyrean_aisles
Sesquipedalian
Senior member
Posts: 497
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« Reply #5 on: December 10, 2008, 07:34:24 AM » |
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Horizontal Sleet University Hee hee. Don't most of us work there? |
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I just need to have my cake in a safe white place today.
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science_expat
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« Reply #6 on: December 10, 2008, 12:36:21 PM » |
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Horizontal Sleet University Hee hee. Don't most of us work there? I think we should start a thread. You think Poppleton is an "interesting" university, how about Horizontal Sleet University. NN, I have a personal chair not a named one. |
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Professor of Something Scarily Scientific Sounding
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drspouse
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« Reply #7 on: December 10, 2008, 02:40:23 PM » |
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On this note, sort of, what do people feel about putting letters after their names e.g. in email signatures?
I recently was made a Chartered Wotsit (by experience, though you can do this by examination - in my field it implies you ). I also have a DPhil which about 80% of the UK academic establishment know means I have a PhD, 10% know it's from one of two universities, and 10% don't know what it means - in the US about 30-40% I think know it's a PhD and the rest don't care...
So my signature can be
A B Spouse, DPhil, CWotsit
Lecturer, Department of Wotsit Studies
Pennypinching University
Top of Cold Fell
The Frozen North
I am not sure whether to switch to PhD (which I actually do not have - it would be like saying I have a BSc because everyone else in the field has a BSc, when in fact I have a BEng, say), or leave DPhil and Americans can just assume, or ask. Likewise I'm not sure whether to leave the CWotsit, which again Americans probably won't understand - though it is relatively transparent that it is a professional qualification in my field.
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science_expat
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« Reply #8 on: December 10, 2008, 02:48:06 PM » |
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I would say it depends on how important CWotsit is in your field.
So, if you're a chartered engineer I would think this is important enough to note. But, I once posted a signature from someone who had about a dozen (no joke) Whotsits after his name.
For the DPhil bit, why not just list yourself as Dr. A. B. Spouse?
So,
Dr. A.B. Spouse, CWhotsit
....
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Professor of Something Scarily Scientific Sounding
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